Competition getting closer as the season nears its conclusion, combined with tricky conditions for today's three races off Lanzarote, left the top eight boats racing at the RC44 Calero Marinas Cup ending day one separated by just six points.

In the opening race, it was Chris Bake's Team Aqua that popped out just in front at the top mark, but it was a crucial early gybe that set them up for the remainder of the race. "It put us in good wind - it was the breaker," said Bake. His long term tactician, Cameron Appleton, added: "After that we could just sail free. On the runs being free of the other guys seems to be more important because if you get tangled you end up not sailing perfectly and with the way the sea state is, it is hard to be consistent all the time."

For race two it was the turn of defending RC44 champion Igor Lah and his Team CEEREF to have their moment and in the third race Bronenosec Sailing Team held on to take the win from Team Nika.

At the end of day one Team Aqua leads, but by just one point from Team CEEREF with Team Nika a further point back in third.

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Consistency was not easy on day one of race, with big Atlantic waves remaining as the wind dropped. Nonetheless it remains close and after three races just six points separates first from eighth. Chris Bake and team Aqua had a great day on water and currently leadings but with the Team Ceeref in second, and Team Nika third, Team Aqua will need to stay focused.

Five-time America's Cup winner Russell Coutts conceived the design of the light-displacement, high-performance one-design RC44 with naval architect Andrej Justin in 2005. It was created for top level racing in international regattas under strictly controlled Class Rules. The concept and the design features of the RC44 are dedicated to the amateur helmsmen racing in fleet racing sailing events.

Since its 2007 debut, the RC44 Class has held regattas in Europe, USA and the Middle East.